The following text is from Maggie Pogue Johnson’s 1910 poem “Poet of Our Race.” In this poem, the speaker is addressing Paul Laurence Dunbar, a Black author.

Thou, with stroke of mighty pen,
 Hast told of joy and mirth,
And read the hearts and souls of men
 As cradled from their birth.

The language of the flowers,
 Thou hast read them all,
And e’en the little brook
 Responded to thy call.